Chicago Cubs Rumors: Could Jon Gray be an answer for the Cubs?

The Chicago Cubs will be in the market for a starting pitcher this offseason. Could a trade with the Rockies fill the hole in the Cubs starting the rotation?

The Chicago Cubs will be looking to add a starting pitcher to the rotation during this offseason. With letting Cole Hamels walk in free agency, the Cubs only have four starting pitchers on the roster. Jon Lester, Yu Darvish, Kyle Hendricks, and Jose Quintana. Tyler Chatwood is a wildcard in that mix. He could be a starter, or the Cubs could keep him in the bullpen where he excelled last year.

If the Cubs keep Chatwood in the bullpen, they will need to add another starter. There have been a few rumors about who the Cubs may sign for in free agency. Every Cubs fan would love to go out and sign Gerrit Cole, but the more it looks like the Cubs won’t be big spenders like that this offseason. Zack Wheeler is another name that has been brought up with the Cubs.

The Cubs might not look at the free agency market for a starting pitcher they might go the other route and try and trade for a starter.

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MLB insider Jon Morosi reported that the Cubs might be in the market to trade for Rockies right-hander Jon Gray. If Gray is actually on the market and the Rockies are looking to trade the 28-year-old many teams would probably be in the mix. Another group that Morosi reported had high interest was the San Diego Padres.

Gray, in theory, would be a perfect fit for the Cubs right now. He has two more years of team control and is scheduled to make around $6 Million next season. This would be a smart move for the Cubs with getting a younger starter that is as expensive as some of the other arms, especially the big ones on the free-agent market.

Gray has battled injuries throughout his career. He suffered a stress fracture in his foot, which caused him to miss time in 2017, then in 2019, he sustained another stress fracture in his foot, ending his season in August. This injury will not impact his 2020 season, and he will be ready to go.

Gray, in 2019, started 25 games (150.0 IP) with a 3.84 ERA and a 2.9 WAR. Some outstanding numbers from a starting pitcher who plays his home games at Coors Field.

I’m all for the Cubs going out and trying to get Gray. It’s still a question on what the Rockies might want in return for Gray. The Cubs will have to get creative this offseason if they don’t plan on being big spenders, and trade for Gray is a good place to start.